Encoder carry mechanism



' March 3, 1970 Filed Jan. 2, 1968 H. A. PANISSIDI 3,498,535

ENCODER CARRY MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

ARM SELECT GRIP SWEEP SEARCH i Y Z CLOSED IN ON 6 81 @132 @83 OPEN OUT OFF ADD sum 2 g 50 AM) INVENTOR HUGO A. PANlSSlDI ATTO NEY March 3, 1970 H. A. PANlSSlDl ENCODER CARRY MECHANISM Filed Jan. 2, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 37 3; If $7 No: S E E: Q m

l2 OE 1 j NfTIE 2 m 5 mm Eliw o United States Patent O 3,498,535 ENCODER CARRY MECHANISM Hugo A. Panissidi, Peekskill, N.Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 2, 1968, Ser. No. 694,959 Int. Cl. G06c 7/10, /42

US. Cl. 235-134 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION In a related copending application Ser. No. 694,941, filed Jan. 2, 1968 on my behalf entitled Manipulator and assigned to the assignee hereof, there is set forth a manipulator and the controls therefor including a description of the subject matter of this invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to encoders and more particularly to mechanism for carrying. Manual entry encoders for registering low order and high order data on wheels include carry mechanisms which are constantly engaged so that it is either difficult or impossible to enter data into the high order wheel directly. Instead, it is necessary to enter all data on the low order wheel. It is preferable to be able to disengage the high order wheel from the carry mechanism except during a carry from the low order wheel. A problem faced in this connection is to obtain such a unidirectional carry without use of auxiliary power other than that required to move the entry wheel.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved manual entry encoder.

Another object is to provide a carry mechanism for a manual entry encoder having dial wheels.

A further object is to provide a carry mechanism from a low order manual entry encoder wheel to a higher order wheel.

Still another object is to provide a manual entry encoder including a carry mechanism from a low order wheel to a higher order wheel which permits adjustment of the higher order wheel without adjustment of the low order wheel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention a manual entry dial control board is provided which includes adjustable commutator arms which can be set to select a desired actuator or a desired value. For example, the unit may be employed to select the mode of operation and displacement of a manipulator. Alternatively, the control board can be employed to control a recording device such as a paper tape punch. The high and low order dials include a unidirectionally related carry mechanism. The dial wheels serve as memories of cumulative data and can be adjusted for accumulating new data.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the control pad showing the mode selection switches thereon and the integer and fraction dials.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the control pad with a portion of the top cover removed to show the Geneva fraction-to-integer carrying mechanism between the lower order fraction Wheel and the higher order integer wheel.

FIG. 3 is a plan view partly in section showing the control pad with separate wheel mechanism cooperating with the lower and higher order commutators and wheels and the Geneva transfer mechanism between the two wheels.

FIG. 3A shows the lower face of one of two discs controlled by the dials and the binary conductive position encoding paths thereon.

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation of the control pad.

THE CONTROL PAD The control pad 54 of FIGS. 14 is an electrical control board including switches for selecting mode, integer and fractional settings to move the manipulator described in my above-identified copending application to trail positions and to provide corresponding digital inputs, when the trial positions are acceptable, to a tape punch. In a trial condition of pad operation, the pad settings effect adjustments of the manipulator instead of reading into the tape. In a mark condition of pad operation, only the tape punch is operated to punch a five bit binary code character representative of a pad setting. But usually the pad is set for several trial manipulator settings, until one mode of operation is performed as desired. Then that particular setting is punched by a mark switch transfer of pulses.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the control pad 54 comprises a casing 77 bearing a series of electrical switches 78-83 extending across the top portion. These switches are identified in a left to right order as the start button 78, mark or trial switch 79, arm select X, Y, Z or 0 switch 80, grip closed or open switch 81, sweep in or out switch 82, and search on or off switch 83.

Under the integer knob 56 at the left is an annular slot 84 through which a plunger pin 85 extends downwardly from knob 56. The pin is axially slidable in the end of an arm 86 pivoted on a shaft 10. A large sawtoothed, integer-encoding star wheel 88 is journaled on shaft 102. A ring of thirty-two openings 89 and a corresponding series of edge positioning teeth are formed around the periphery of the wheel 88. The circular openings 89 are adapted to receive the tapered end of pin 85 for cranking of wheel 88 thereby. A disc 111 under wheel 88 is formed with a corresponding set of edge notches 90. The notches 90 are part of a Geneva carry or transfer mechanism to be described.

Referring again to FIG. 1, associated with the annular slot 84 is a pair of numerical sequences 0-10 and 10-0 which represent integers of motion in inches which may be selected by cranking of wheel 88-. Cranking is eifected by grasping the knob 56, moving it arcuately to the add or subtract 0, mark. Then one may press the knob downwardly to insert pin 85 into an opening 89 to engage the wheel 88. Then he may crank the knob 56 and the arm 86 to turn the wheel 88 until the pointer 91 on knob 56 is opposite the desired number.

Thret numerals 0, and 240 show the 6 settings for the turning mode 0. As shown in FIG. 3, a stop pin 111A on disc 111, abuts against a fixed block 111B to prevent the integer disc from adjustment beyond 31 positions.

In a somewhat similar fashion, the fraction encoder is formed with a complete annular slot 92 through which projects a plunger pin 93, FIG. 2, extending down from a knob 57 and slidable through an arm 94 pivoted shaft 103. On a bearing 95 is the adjustable, fraction-encoding, star wheel 96 formed with a ring of thirty-two detent notches 105 and a similiar number of marginal holes 97 for receiving pin 93-. A disc 104 is attached to the lower surface of star wheel 96. A single Geneva drive notch 98 is formed in the periphery of disc 104 for the purpose of carrying an integer secured by addition of two fractions.

FIG. 1 shows that two rings of fractional division markings -31 and 31-0 are arranged around slot 92. They indicate the additive and subtractive settings for the desired number of inch increments of movement to be selected by fraction knob 57. To make the desired fraction setting, knob 57 is swung to 0, and pressed down to insert pin 93 in a hole 97. Then the wheel 96 is cranked to the desired fractional setting such as as shown. The pointer 99 on knob 57 indicates the adjustment. Then knob 57 is released to its spring-biased outward position. The Wheel 96 will remain where adjusted since both encoding wheels 88 and 96 are detented as commutator memory devices.

The interior construction of control pad 54 is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. A base plate 100 is supported in casing 77 by four corner posts 101. A shaft 102 rises to support the bearing 87 for wheel 88 and disc 111. A shaft 103 rises to support the bearing 95 for wheel 96 and disc 104.

Cooperating with the star wheel detent notches 105 is the rounded tip 106 of a detent arm .107 pivoted at support 108 and biased by a spring 109 to align and main tain a wheel setting. A similar form of detent 110 is provided to cooperate with the saw-toothed teeth or notches of the integer wheel '88.

Surrounding shaft 103, FIG. 4, is a sleeve 112 carrying the arm 94 loosely assembled on the shaft. The bearing 95 carries the fraction wheel 96 and disc 104. Disc 104 carries on its lower surface a layer of insulation 113 upon which conductive paths 114 are formed as shown in FIG. 3A. The paths 114 provide binary readout settings according to the adjusted position of the disc assembly relative to a set of brushes 115 extending from an insulation block 116 to press on the paths 114. In FIG. 3 it is shown how block 116 is situated on base 100 to direct brushes 115 forward to ride on brush paths 115A in contact with the paths 114 on the rotary disc for motions in both directions.

A similar set of brushes 117 is mounted on a block 118 and pressed upon conductive paths 119 in FIG. 4 formed on an insulation layer 120 fastened to the lower face of the integer disc 11.1. The brushes follow brush paths 117A shown in FIG 3. The arrangement of parts on shaft 102, FIG. 4, for the integer settings is practically the same as the parts shown in sectional detail on fraction disc shaft 103. Arm 86 is loosely assembled on shaft 102 while wheel 88 and disc 1.11 are fastened to bearing 87 which is loosely rotatable on shaft 102. The integer setting is held in position as a read-out memory device by the detent 110 cooperating with the saw teeth of the star wheel 88.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the control pad 54 of FIGS. 1-4, is an economical double-dialed form of switchboard for entering integers and fractions of inch settings for conversion to five bit binary characters. Such characters are used for controlling the extent of movement in modes of operation X, Y, Z, or 0 the perforation of a five place binary paper control tape.

The displacement data for controlling the manipulator arm from the control pad must be supplied serially in two binary characters representing an integer (1" to 31") and a fraction (0" to of an inch in intervals). Therefore, the encoding wheels 88 and 96 are both designed for adjustment to 32 positions representative of a different five bit binary character electrically readable therefrom. The wheels are adjustable clockwise or counterclockwise for additive or subtractive operations by the arms 86 and 94.

Should the fraction knob 57 be cranked to enter of an inch first and then again cranked additively to add of a ninch or to demand a total manipulator arm movement of 1%", then the fraction disc 104 has turned 1% revolutions and a 1 must be carried to and added to the integer wheel 88.

For carrying 1 a Geneva transfer wheel 121 is placed between the fraction and integer discs 104 and 111. As the fraction disc 104 turns one revolution, a single carry notch 98 therein engages one of four pins 121A on the transfer wheel 121. The transfer wheel 121 is loosely mounted on a pivot 122 carried by a lever 124 pivotally mounted at 123 and spring biased to press against the smooth outer surface of the fraction disc 104 by the spring 125. As the transfer wheel 121 is turned one-quarter turn during a carry by notch 98, one of its four pins 121A swings into one of the edge notches of the integer disc 111 to turn it one step. This effects a carry and adds one inch to the integer setting. Subtractive carries are effected conversely.

It is important to note that the movement of the transfer wheel 121 during a carry is not simply a rotary motion. Rather it is a rocking motion whereby clearance is maintained for freedom of adjustment of the integer wheel 88 before and after a carry motion is effected. The rocking motion of the transfer wheel 121 is made possible because the carry notch 98 is shallow. Hence the motion towards disc 104 of the pin 121A when it becomes engaged in notch 98 is slight. During rotation about pivot screw 122 the engaged pin 121A becomes a pivot and is pushed slightly to the left in FIG. 3 as disc 104 turns counterclockwise. During turning of the fraction disc 104, the diametrically opposite pin 121A turns about shaft 122. The opposite pin 121A is also swept in a raised arc about the engaged pin 121A which carries it far into the notch 90 and cranks the integer disc 111 one step. Then, by rocking about pivot 123, the opposite pin retracts farther to the right than it would simply by turning on shaft 122. Accordingly, settings of the integer disc 111 may be selected without disturbing the fraction disc 104 because ordinarily the transfer wheel pins 121A are out of the path of the notches 90 on the integer disc 111.

General operation of the control pad is described below by reference to FIG. 1. If the operator Wishes to extend a manipulator arm 5" he swings the pointer 91 of integer knob 56 to the numeral 0. There he depresses the knob until its pin engages a hole. He then cracks the pointer of the knob and the disc clockwise until the pointer is at 5. If the operator wishes to collapse the manipulator arms he will crank the encoder wheel 88 counterclockwise. The 0 positions of the two encoder wheels 88 and 96 are accentuated by a marking 126 adjacent a hole 97 of the fraction Wheel 96 and a similar sort of marking 127 adjacent an opening 89 in the integer wheel 88.

In FIG. 1 angular measurements are noted at the left of the annular slot 84. The divisions for 0, and 240 are aligned with the 0, 1, and 2 inch markings.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A manual entry encoder including a pair of rotatably mounted members, a bidirectional carry mechanism operable in response to turning of a first member of said mem bers about its axis to engage and drive the second member of said members about its axis, in a direction corre sponding to the direction of said first member, said carry mechanism being withdrawn from engagement with said second member except during a carry from said first member to said second member, said carry mechanism providing transmission of turning force from said first member to said second member.

2. A manual entry encoder including a pair of wheels, and a bidirectional, retractable carry mechanism, said carry mechanism being operable by a first wheel of said pair of wheels in a predetermined position to extend to couple turning force between said pair of wheels to provide a carry transfer from said first wheel to the other wheel of said pair of wheels which carry transfer may be in the clockwise or the counterclockwise direction as a function of the direction of said first wheel.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said carry mechanism is pivotally secured and includes a follower mechanism biased into engagement with the peripheral surface of said first wheel.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said first wheel includes a recess in said peripheral surface contacting said follower mechanism.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said carry mechanism includes a plurality of pins adapted to engage with said surface of said first wheel and to drop one pin thereof into said recess to fulcrum said pivotally secured carry mechanism to rock said carry mechanism away from said first wheel to drive a pin opposite said one pin into driving engagement with said other wheel, said other wheel being adapted to be driven by said opposite pin.

6. A manual entry encoder including a pair of wheels, and a carry mechanism, said carry mechanism being actuable by a first wheel of said pair of wheels in a predetermined position to extend to couple said pair of wheels to provide a carry transfer from said first wheel to the other wheel of said pair of wheels, said carry mechanism being pivotally secured and including a follower mechanism biased into engagement with a surface of said first wheel, said first wheel including a recess in said surface contacting said follower mechanism, said carry mechanism including a plurality of pins adapted to engage with said surface of said first wheel and to drop one pin thereof into said recess to fulcrum said pivotally secured carry mechanism to rock said carry mechanism away from said first wheel to drive a pin opposite said one pin into driving engagement with said other wheel, said other wheel being adapted to be driven by said opposite pin.

7. A manual entry encoder including a pair of retatably mounted members, and a carry mechanism, said carry mechanism being operable by a first member of said pair of members in a predetermined position to extend to couple said pair of members to provide a carry transfer from said first member to the other member of said pair of members, said carry mechanism being pivotally secured and including a follower mechanism biased into engagement with a surface of said first member, said first member including a recess in said surface contacting said follower mechanism, said carry mechanism including a plurality of pins adapted to engage with said surface of said first member and to drop one pin thereof into said recess to fulcrum said pivotally secured carry mechanism to rock said carry mechanism away from said first member to drive a pin opposite said one pin into driving engagement with said other member, said other member being adapted to be driven by said opposite pin.

8. A manual entry encoder including a rotatably mounted member and a wheel, and a carry mechanism, said carry mechanism being operable by said wheel in a predetermined position to extend to couple said member and said wheel to provide a carry transfer from said wheel to said member, said carry mechanism being pivotally secured and including a follower mechanism biased into engagement with a surface of said wheel, said first wheel including a recess in said surface contacting said follower mechanism, said carry mechanism including a plurality of pins adapted to engage with said surface of said wheel and to drop one pin thereof into said recess to fulcrum said pivotally secured carry mechanism to rock said carry mechanism away from said wheel to drive a pin opposite said one pin into driving engagement with said member, said member being adapted to be turned on its axis by said opposite pin.

9. A carry mechanism for connection between low order and higher order mechanism comprising a first support having a central axis secured rotatably to a second support having a separate parallel axis of rotatable support, said second support being biased by a force acting about said separate axis into contact with said low order mechanism, said first support including a plurality of projections from said support for engagement to couple said high order and said low order mechanisms to provide coupling of torque from said low order mechanism to said high order mechanism.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said support comprises a bar secured to said second support which comprises an afiixed support, said bar having secured thereto at its opposite end biasing means comprising a coil spring affixed at its opposite end to a fixed support, said projections comprising a plurality of pins extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said first support and adapted for driving engagement between a low order and a high order mechanism in response to engagement of one of said pins with pin actuating mechanism secured to said low order mechanism.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,455,710 5/1923 Chih 235-74 3,057,277 10/1962 Swarofsky et al. 31 3,312,395 4/ 1967 Nara 2351 14 1,176,844 3/1916 Martinez 235-74 1,900,808 3/1933 Haase 235-134 XR STEPHEN I. TOMSKY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 2351 14 Disclaimer 3,498,535. 1@290 A. Pam'ssidi, Peekskill, N.Y. EN CODER CARRY MECHA- N IS Patent dated Mar. 3, 1970. Disclaimer filed Apr. 10, 1972, by the assignee, International Business Machines Corporation.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1 and 2 of said patent.

[Oficz'al Gazette July 25, 19739.] 

